National Association For Multi-Ethnicity In Communications (NAMIC) Creative Summit East Coast Boasts Over Fifty Industry Leaders

Robert Townsend, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Warrington Hudlin, Anchor Impressive Roster Of Corporate Executives Scheduled For Provocative Conference Program For The NAMIC Creative Summit Entertainment Industry Conference Focusing On The Creative Aspects Of Television And Film

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 7, 2005 -- Celebrating its 25th anniversary of cultivating leaders within the Communications industry, the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) announced today the conference program for the 1st Annual NAMIC Creative Summit East Coast. Scheduled for Monday, May 9, 2005 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, the NAMIC Creative Summit is an entertainment industry conference focused on the creative aspects of television and film staged in an intimate, grassroots forum highlighted by provocative panel discussions, a special luncheon showcasing actor-writer-producer Ruben Santiago-Hudson (HBO's "Lackawanna Blues"), a Career Expo and a cocktail reception.

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. with registration and a networking breakfast followed by a welcome address by Manish Jha, senior vice president, ESPN Mobile and president, NAMIC, the conference will commence with a general session featuring executives from multi-ethnic networks including actor-filmmaker Robert Townsend, president and CEO, Black Family Channel, Peilin Chou, senior vice president, programming, AZN Television and Susan Banks, senior vice president, marketing and creative services, TV One. Michael Smith, senior vice president, on-air` strategy and creative services, Food Network will moderate the discussion covering program strategies, unique audience relevance, and multicultural marketing and business goals.

Santiago-Hudson is the keynote speaker for the conference luncheon and "Telling Our Story: Remaining Authentic in an Industry of Formulas" is the theme for the up-close-and-personal session. Veteran producer Warrington Hudlin, founder of the Black Filmmaker Foundation will also take part in the intimate dialogue.

Comprised of over fifty corporate leaders and independent filmmakers, additional sessions slated for the NAMIC Creative Summit East Coast will cover a wide range of topics such as pitch preparation, garnering community-based media, the current state of family programming, project funding, transitioning into the industry's creative sector of the business, the latest on network diversity initiatives, digital convergence and a special session targeting students aspiring to break into the business. Additionally, in what may be the conference's most unique session, corporate executives share their experiences with regard to leaving senior positions and launching new careers. Moderated by Kiko Washington, senior vice president, worldwide human resources, Warner. Bros., participating panelists for the session entitled "The Need to be a Chameleon" include Kery Davis, senior vice president, programming, HBO Sports, Jacqueline Hernandez Fallous, publisher of People en Español, Brigitte McCray, senior vice president, programming & scheduling, Oxygen Media, Inc. and Debra Langford, director of strategic sourcing, Time Warner.

Bringing network diversity into focus, Jenny Alonzo, senior vice president, production promotion, planning & multicultural strategies, Lifetime Entertainment Services will moderate "Networks Showcase," a panel comprised of diversity executives Marc Hirschfeld, executive vice president, casting, NBC Universal, Carmen Jean Smith, vice president, talent development programs, ABC and Josie Thomas, senior vice president, diversity, CBS.

Title sponsor for the 1st Annual NAMIC Creative Summit East Coast is VH1 and media partner is Multichannel News/Broadcasting & Cable. The cocktail reception is sponsored by The New York Times. Other companies and organizations participating include ESPN, Comedy Central, HBO, Nickelodeon, NY International Latino Film Festival, MIP TV/MIP COM, Film Life, Oxygen Media, Spike TV, MTV Networks,
Court TV, A&E, Turner Broadcasting and Showtime Networks.

Founded 25 years ago as a non-profit 501(c )(6) trade association and comprised of 2,000 industry professionals, NAMIC has developed programs to help educate, empower and advocate for multi-ethnic diversity in the telecommunications industry through 17 nationwide chapters. Such initiatives are achieved through the Annual NAMIC Conference, a cornerstone of Cable Diversity Week, the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program and the Executive Leadership and Development Program (ELDP) at the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Business.

For more information about NAMIC or to register for the 1st Annual NAMIC Creative Summit East Coast log onto http://www.namic.com/.

For Media Credentials Contact:
Charmaine Chapman
Beyond The Box Communications
310/285-9443 (office) 310/902-8617 (cell)
char@btbcommunications.com

Media Contact Day of Event:
Beatrice Robbio
Director of Marketing and Communications, NAMIC
917/881-8330 (cell)
beatrice.robbio@namic.com

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